Li Hongzhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, addresses the 9th Kubuqi International Desert Forum in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Aug 26, 2023. [Xinhua/He Shuchen]

HOHHOT -- Senior Chinese legislator Li Hongzhong Saturday called for efforts to promote the high-quality development of desertification control in China.

Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the top legislature, made the remarks when addressing the 9th Kubuqi International Desert Forum in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Li stressed that with unremitting efforts, China has realized a historic transformation from "sand forcing humans to retreat" to "trees forcing sand to retreat," with its desertified and sandified areas both shrinking.

He pledged to continue practicing the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and advancing the integrated conservation and restoration of mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grasslands, deserts, glaciers, and snow mountains.

"Desertification is a common challenge facing humankind," Li said, calling for leveraging the role of governments, international organizations, and various sand-control units, deepening scientific research cooperation, and jointly enhancing the governance of the global desert ecosystem.